The Sprout
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 125 March 2018
The Sprout
Issue 125, March 2018
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
7 Planet Friendly Power
11 Primary Playmakers
13 West Way update
17 Ahh! Coffee!
21 Community Vision for Play
25 #botleyfirst
27 North Hinksey Art Group
29 Planning Applications
31 Farewell, Sobell shop
33 Flood Relief Channel
37 2nd Botley Brownies
39 Easter C of E services
41 Favours Auction
42 Randoms
43 Local Organizations
From the Editor
Spring is on the way, though as I type this my fingers are stiff with cold!
The snowdrops on the cover come from Jenny Holloway, souvenir of a
memorable visit to Waterperry. Inside you’ll find the usual West Way
update from WWCC (p13) which this month is supported by a letter from
the Sprout Directors, who are concerned by the way safeguards have been
dropped to get the project moving. The Flood Relief Scheme is also giving
some cause for concern (p33), but there is comfort at the top of the hill,
where NHPC is getting help from the Vale with unlocking some of the
potential of our playing field (p21). This will be explained at the Annual
Parish Meeting on 22nd March, our once-a-year chance to tell the PC what
we would like from them, so there’s a date for our diaries. If you’re looking
for a greener power supply, now’s the time to act (p7); if you want to unlock
the artist inside you, see p27 for an account of N Hinksey Art Group. If
you’re a secret poet, or simply missing our much loved local charity shop,
see page 31. And finally, Botley too may have its share of fake news. Don’t
be fooled by the article on page 25!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
Annual Parish Meeting
Just a line to urge people to attend if they can the Annual Parish Meeting
on 22nd March to hear about the work of our Parish Council over the last
year. Parish councillors work hard and give their time voluntarily – they
deserve our support and appreciation. The Parish Council is an important
consultee on major issues that concern us all and will continue to be so.
Looking to the year ahead we see the development of the West Way
precinct, the possible broadening of the A34 and the effect of the flood
alleviation channel on the fields adjoining North Hinksey Lane and
Village, to name but three. The Parish Council can be the spearhead for
making sure that residents' views are heard, but to do this they need to
know what residents’ views are, and they won’t find out if we all stay at
home on March 22nd.
Janet Godden
Flood Channel
Please thank Debbie Dance for her article in last month’s The Sprout on
the proposed flood channel. Being a life long resident of North Hinksey
and living a lot of it overlooking ‘the big field’, I am appalled by the plan
and even more so learning that it will encourage building on the flood
plain, rather than the opposite which I had thought until now. It is heart-
breaking to walk the proposed route and see the trees marked for felling
and the channel pegged out. I shall have to find a new dog-walking area.
Has the ‘ecologist’ realised yet the effect this will have on wildlife, which
has used this as sanctuary from all the other new buildings which should
have never passed planning.
Jean Rivers
Seeking Ferddie
I was born in Oxford 1948, and I am doing some research on my family
history and there is a connection with Botley.
During the 1950s and 60s a friend of my father lived in a converted railway
carriage which was in the Elms Rd/ Poplar Rd/ Hazel Rd/ Seacourt Rd
area and I am trying to find anybody who might remember this unusual
dwelling. I remember going there for Sunday tea as a small boy!
The person, who I only knew as
'Uncle Ferddie', was a great
friend of my family, but sadly all
contact was lost a long time ago.
I realize that this is a long shot,
but I thought it was worthwhile
asking to see if you might have
any information, or know of any
other places that I might go to
further my enquiries.
Tony Broom
[Does anyone remember Uncle Ferddie, or the railway carriage, if so, let
us know and we’ll pass it on? That’s him, second from left. Editor]
A letter from the Sprout directors
Anxious as we all now are to see the new shopping centre in being, and
realising that the appearance of the site will have to get worse before it
begins to get better, it would nevertheless be a mistake to take on board
every proposed change to the plans that comes along. Some of these
changes may not be to our advantage.
West Way Community Concern are monitoring progress on behalf of us
all, and their website is a good way to keep up to date. We already know
about the Botley Development Company’s proposals to change the
access to West Way, in a way that will reduce the amount of green space.
We have seen how forlorn and boarded up the old precinct looks – still
without a firm date for work to start, and reducing even further our local
affordable housing, a topic in the news every day. As everywhere locally,
there is a shortage of affordable housing in Botley, but the District
Council’s response has been to permit this development to be exempt.
Now we learn from WWCC that the Vale Council has decided to waive
two important conditions in the original contract – BDC is no longer
required to secure an agency to take over the management of the student
flats, or to provide evidence of the financial viability of the development
as a whole. These were the community’s main safeguards against the
failure of the whole scheme, and they have gone. It is hard to see what
evidence of ‘progress’ the Vale has as a basis for this decision. It profits
the developer, obviously, but where is the advantage for Botley?
lanet-friendly power may cost less than you think
A big new campaign is challenging people in and around Oxford to
become leaders in support for clean renewable energy. The Oxford Big
Clean Switch has been launched to make it easy for us all to switch to
green energy tariffs. Over 70% of people in the UK are ‘very’ or ‘fairly’
concerned about climate change. Yet just 2.5% of homes buy their
electricity from a ‘green supplier’, even though the costs are now similar
or even cheaper.
The Oxford Big Clean Switch is being launched by local environmental
groups working with the national Big Clean Switch programme. It’s one
of the first community-led projects in the UK. The project has a website –
www.bigcleanswitch.org/oxford – where residents can compare the
price of different renewable tariffs. It takes less than 10 minutes to get a
quote and switch.
For an average hom in Oxford, the cheapest green tariffs available
through the campaign are now within £35 to £45 of the very cheapest
tariffs on the market, and up to £300 cheaper than the average standard
tariff with one of the country’s Big Six suppliers .
Alison Hill of Low Carbon Oxford North said, “We want Oxford to be the
place where more people use green energy than anywhere else. We
have a high level of renewable energy generation with over 30 schools
across the county and a growing number of businesses installing solar
power systems. Let’s build on that by using more renewable power as
well. Switching to renewable electricity is critical if we’re to prevent the
worst impacts of climate change, but most people don’t realize it could
also save them money. Now is the time to make the change. Visit the
website and see what is on offer.”
The campaign does not promote any single company and offers a choice
of tariffs from six different companies. If you like your quote, completing
the switch application just takes another few minutes. After that, just sit
back and relax – you don’t even need to contact your old supplier. Your
switch should go live about three weeks later (you’ll just need to provide
a meter reading to your new supplier at that point).
The project will also raise funds for local environmental projects. The
groups running the project will give out the money received as
commission as grants to community groups.
Q. What is a clean tariff?
A. When you’re on a clean tariff, your supplier promises to match the
amount of electricity you use by putting the same amount of renewable
electricity into the National Grid. The more renewable electricity that goes
into the Grid, the greener it gets.
Q. Which sources of energy are covered by a clean tariff?
A. Big Clean Switch uses ‘clean’ energy as shorthand for power from
renewable sources – sun, wind, water (river dams, tidal or wave power)
and biofuels (such as gas released by rotting food or energy crops). The
environmental impact is less clear with some forms of biofuels, so these
are excluded from the tariffs available through the Big Clean Switch. You
can find out more on the website
Q. What kind of savings may be available?
1. A typical saving of c.£300 was calculated on 6 February 2018 by
comparing an average usage dual fuel household on a Big Six
Standard Variable Tariff (£1,135) with the cheapest dual fuel tariff
supplying 100% renewable electricity available through the Big Clean
Switch website (£834). All
prices are for a single rate
meter paying by monthly direct
debit, with prices averaged
across all regions of England,
Scotland and Wales. Average
usage as defined by Ofgem is
12,000 kWh pa of gas and
3,100 kWh pa of electricity.
2. The cheapest open market tariff
for an Oxfordshire postcode on
13 February 2018 was £802 a
year for a medium consumption
dual-fuel household on a single-
rate meter paying by monthly
direct debit. This compares with
£844 a year for the cheapest
comparable tariff available
through the Oxford Big Clean
Switch. Chris Church
5ZM’s Primary Playmakers’ Workshop January 2018
The people who came from the
Oxford Playhouse were called
Paul and Renata. On the first day
we went into the hall and met
them. First they told us their names
and asked us to say our names,
but in a certain way. They said we
had to tell them our name and then
do a little action with it, like a jump
or something.
Later, we got into groups and Paul
or Renata would say an object.
Then we had to make that object
with our bodies, like if they said
“house” then one of us might have
been the roof and someone else might have been the rest of the house.
Next we mimed robbing a house and had to “steal” three valuable items
such as a TV or jewellery. We were in pairs. Once we had practised
miming we sat down by the stage and one pair at a time acted it out to
the rest of the class. After we had mimed, the other children and normally
Paul and Renata gave us feedback.
We played a game called “walkies”. What happened was Paul gave us
actions or people to be e.g. super models, Egyptians, a frog or jelly. Then
Paul shouted out something like “frog” and all the children who were frogs
had to leap around and swap seats with someone else who was a “frog”.
However, Paul filled in a space, so whoever was still in the middle at the
end had to shout out the next name. The person in the middle could also
say “walkies” and everyone would have to walk around.
After, we did work on emotions. Paul told us to pretend we were in a
supermarket and one person had to always be angry, and the other
person had to be really kind, so opposite emotions. We then went down
to the hall and acted and got some feedback.
During the week, we wrote our own scripts based on an issue that was
unfair. We typed them up and edited them. Then we had the opportunity
to perform our scripts once we had completed a final draft.
5ZM Botley School
West Way update for March 2018
The sale of the West Way shopping centre and development site area
went through in the last week of January. So Mace (Botley Development
Company) now own the centre. The price paid to the Vale for their part
was £12.4m, £1.4m less than in the original agreement. In addition some
conditions of sale were waived, or treated liberally. We do not know how
this price and conditions were arrived at, and there is an argument that
the viability assessment for providing affordable housing should be
reviewed as a result.
Mace have boarded up the empty shops, and are fighting a battle against
graffiti. Notices have been put up saying that they are in consultation with
local schools and art groups about putting artwork on the boards, and
request that these efforts not be spoiled. The Vale Council (or their
previous contractors) removed the litter bins, which has not helped in
terms of tidiness, and closed the toilets. We contacted Mace, who were
not aware of the problem and are now in touch with the contractors: the
bins should be reinstalled and the toilets reopened by the time you read
this. Mace’s current contact for residents to raise facilities issues is David
Macfarlane: david@spbroadway.com.
The planning application P17/V3298/FUL (described in January’s article)
for the changed plans has not yet gone to the Vale’s Planning Committee
(as at the end of February). The application now contains information on
proposed landscaping, which had not been included in the December
plans and has brought to light issues about the main pedestrian street
through the centre. The area between the student blocks and residential/
retail block E (i.e., what is now the Square) would have a stepped area
with ramps, which has implications for deliveries and emergency vehicles
needing to access it.
In the meantime Mace have put forward a “Community Employment Plan”
which they needed to do to satisfy Planning Conditions (application
P18/V0317/DIS). This has an “aspirational target” that “5% of workforce
have Oxfordshire postcodes”, with a “stretch target” of 10%. One wonders
whether 95% could come from outside the County. They also aim for a
target that “5% of those working onsite (full time equivalent) are between
18–25 years old” (13% of the whole workforce will be aged 18 to 25).
The prospect for local businesses getting work seems low, as only “5%
of the build value will be awarded to local companies” with “local to be
defined as 30-mile radius of Oxford” – which would include Reading,
Swindon, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
We expect the next stage to be that Mace will put hoardings around the
Grant Thornton corner of the site to start work on converting that area
into a temporary Co-op, Tesco, Lloyds Pharmacy, Seacourt Hall and
Baptist Church. The Library will remain open throughout this work. This
work is anticipated by Mace to take three months, with June the likely
date for the move of these shops and facilities to the temporary site, after
which demolition and reconstruction can start, if the planning conditions
have been fulfilled.
WWCC will continue to monitor and comment on applications for any
changes and for discharge of conditions, and to raise any issues with
facilities during this ongoing transition period.
To stay informed, please keep an eye on our website
www.westwayconcern.wordpress.com and you can also find us on
social media www.twitter.com/westwayconcern and facebook.com/
westwayconcern.
Mary Gill, Co-chair, West Way Community Concern
Ahh – Coffee!
How could such an innocuous looking bean
be so human friendly? Or is it the case that
we should take a closer look at all plants, and
that they may also prove more useful than
we may think in our lives today?
Sitting chatting over a cup of black coffee the
other day (black, because I was eating a
buttered croissant) and talking to a French
friend; inevitably the conversation veered
towards food and drink.
We agreed on the necessity for our daily intake of caffeine to awaken our
senses to the day ahead, the comfort of holding that black liquid in our
hand, admiring its thick consistency. Then, having finished the drink, I
viewed the grains inside the porcelain mug and had the delight of seeing
– ‘murmurations’ of the future – a horse galloping across a moor, its rider
clinging to its streaming mane. Our talk focussed on coffee grains. Did
they have other uses?
‘Well, yes,’ I said. I had used them most successfully this past summer
for protecting my seedlings from the usually unstoppable appetites of
snails and slugs. Firstly, I placed all the seedlings in their trays on a large
sheet of wood/mdf, then surrounded the entire area with a continuous
mound of coffee grains (kindly supplied by a local supermarket). It was
the first time ALL my seedlings had ever grown to maturity.
My friend then came back with the following: If you want to grow
mushrooms, particularly Oyster Mushrooms, then coffee grains are your
best growing medium. They have been pasteurised and are full of
nutrients. First order your spawn (say 500g of spawn to 2.5kg spent
grounds) plus one filter-patch grow
bag, or 2-litre freezer bag with four
5mm holes in the sides. Go to a
local friendly café and ask for their
fresh spent coffee grounds. Within
24 hours weigh out 2.5kg into a
clean mixing bowl. Wash your
hands and forearms before mixing
in the spawn and filling your
cultivation bag 2/3 full. Seal the top.
Place bag in a warm dark place for three
weeks. Now bring into a place with low light,
but plenty of fresh air. Cut a 5cm x 5cm hole
in the bag and spray with water twice a day.
Tiny mushrooms should now appear,
growing daily. (For further info google ‘How
to Grow Oyster Mushrooms on Waste
Coffee Grounds’.)
I wonder what other uses you may have
found for the ingredients or by-products in
our meals, the food we eat or the beverages we drink.
Dianne Cockburn
[Here’s another coffee use, Dianne: Save your spent coffee grounds in
a pot by the sink, and rub them in with a drop of washing up liquid to get
grease and dirt off your hands after mending your bike. Editor]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A community vision for Louie Memorial Fields
This time last year, North Hinksey Parish Council’s Recreation &
Amenities Committee was analysing the results of a consultation with
young people about leisure provision in our community. This is not a new
local issue. Around ten years ago NHPC invested in the parish-owned
facilities at Louie Memorial Fields off Arnold’s Way, securing funding for
a new MUGA (multi-use games area) outside the Pavilion and updating
the children’s play area in the lower field. Following destruction of the
Botley Skate Bowl from an arson attack in 2009, the then-Council
consulted on plans for a replacement skate park. After the 2011 election
the incoming Council did not publish or act on those results. However this
period saw the completion of substantial environmental works to the
ecologically sensitive Louie Memorial copse and fenland.
In 2012 the Parish Council was presented with a petition of 800+
signatures calling for a new skate park at Louie Memorial Fields. A
general parish-wide leisure survey followed, and under the current Parish
Council elected in 2015 the improvement of parish-owned facilities has
been a key objective. In the meantime a team of dedicated local
volunteers who serve as Louie Memorial Pavilion Trustees have done all
they can to improve the appearance and functioning of that building – a
challenging task, given the relatively poor design and construction that
became outdated years ago. Nevertheless, Pavilion and football pitch
bookings have steadily increased over the last five years. The 4th Oxford
Scout Group, whose neighbouring Hut is similarly in vital need of
updating, is growing and meets at Louie Memorial Fields four nights a
week. Add in regular usage of the Pavilion by North Hinksey Youth Club,
daytime use of the football pitch and MUGA by Matthew Arnold School,
and casual use of the open space by walkers and families: it’s clear that
the facilities at Louie Memorial Fields are a valued hub of community life.
Why go through the recent history? Because it’s time to look forward and
to secure the value of the fields for the decades ahead. Building on the
consultations of recent years and with support from our District
Councillors Debby Hallett and Emily Smith, this year Vale of White Horse
District Council is funding professional work to develop a master plan for
improvements to Louie Memorial Fields. The key focus is on a new
building to replace the Pavilion and Scout Hut (both long past their
intended shelf life), but plans for future work need to consider the context
of the surrounding outdoor space. Eco-friendly design, parking,
accessibility, football pitch condition, additional outdoor fitness or play
equipment – before we can invest in any of these, we need a cohesive
vision of how the total space can work well for the benefit of the whole
community.
In December NHPC appointed Nortoft planning consultants
(www.nortoft.co.uk) to carry out the first phase of master planning work.
The team is led by Nortoft managing director David O’Neil and works in
partnership with SWA Architects (www.swa-architects.co.uk), whose
many projects include the design of West Oxford Community Centre.
Nortoft have been doing feasibility studies since January, drawing on past
NHPC consultations and other research to generate ideas for improved
facilities at Louie Memorial Fields. In the coming months they will put
forward a preferred option for longer-term development of a new Pavilion
building and the surrounding space.
This is where you come in! At the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday,
22nd March (7.30pm at Seacourt Hall), Nortoft will present its work to
date and will launch its public consultation. Please come along and let us
know what you would like to see for the future of Louie Memorial Fields.
It has taken years of work to get to this point, and for the first time all of
the key stakeholders (Pavilion Trustees, Scouts, NHPC and Vale District
Council) are aligned in our shared commitment to make substantial
improvements to our parish-owned facilities. Everyone is warmly invited
to be a part of this process, so that we can all enjoy our valued community
spaces for many more years. Help us to develop a vision that the whole
community can be proud of!
Cllr Caroline Potter, Chair of NHPC Recreation & Amenities Committee
#botleyfirst #botleyfirst #botleyfirst #botleyfirst
Your raving reporter has been forensically scouring the news
media, filtering out the fake from the truth. I can now reveal a
number of scoops that may have otherwise gone unreported. Eat
your heart out Oxford Times / Mail / Washington Post!
#botleybayeuxbid
Still at forefront of cultural events, Botley bid submitted to display
Bayeux Tapestry when arrives in UK. Plan is to wrap it around Elms
Parade, capitalising on success of human protest chain. Should
ensure no ‘accidental’ demolition during building work. Crowd
funding set up to raise cash for Blu Tak and bulldog clips.
#megameghan
Yippee! Meghan Markle agrees to open new Botley Centre. Diary
pretty full, would not be free until 2025, but BDC has said will make
special effort to get Phase 1 finished by then.
#toptap
More Yippee! In keeping with new informal royals, Harry will be
holding stag night at Tap Social. Plans for pop-up palace outside,
dispensing royal ‘street food’. Some disquiet from equerry, viz. “I
say, what exactly is a ‘street’?”
#bonzabanksy
Breaking news! Banksy rumoured to have been spotted sizing up
boarding on ex-Tattoo parlour. Watch this space (free quotes).
#splishsplash
Seacourt Park & Ride renamed Moor & Sail
News in the wind, yet to be substantiated, investigations ongoing
#Botley Bridge #Botley Wall
OK nurse, I’m coming!
Mike Bartlam
North Hinksey Art Group – come to our exhibition
As you may have seen in February’s edition of The Sprout, North Hinksey
Art Group are currently holding an exhibition of their work in SS Peter &
Paul Church. This is one of the ongoing exhibitions organized and hung
by Botley Arts, and
our local group’s
pictures are on
display until mid-
April.
Included in the
exhibition are
flower and animal
studies,
architecture
pictures, interiors,
landscapes, and
seascapes. Many
feature local scenes – a study of the bridge at Blenheim Park, the Bridge
of Sighs in Oxford plus a couple of pictures of Turl Street, the Oxford
skyline, Peachcroft Farm, a landscape of the Ridgeway, Charlton-on-
Otmoor, and Binsey in the snow have been much admired already. The
artworks use a number of different media including examples of pen and
wash, pastel, wax resist, mono printing and, of course, watercolour.
Pictures by twelve different artists are on display. This is also an
opportunity to compare different interpretations of the same subject, for
instance there are two pictures each of tigers, washing on a line, plus a
couple of the same Oxford street scene. These particular paintings
illustrate the results of some of our weekly art lessons.
Attending the class helps feed our desire to be creative by giving us the
impetus to paint and draw. Our teacher, Christina Wartke-Dunbar,
frequently pushes us out of our comfort zones but provides us with plenty
of encouragement while we enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists.
Without the classes some of us feel we would not flourish and would be
disinclined to experiment with different styles and techniques. I always
come away from the class wanting to do more.
We held a Private View of the current exhibition on Friday 9 February
which was attended by around 40 family and friends. I’m sure the wine
and nibbles helped but it was a joyous occasion and we received many
complimentary and appreciative comments. Here is a photo of the event.
We very much hope that you can drop into the church on West Way (open
daily 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.) to look at our artwork and perhaps leave
some comments in the visitor’s book. You will find there is a list of
exhibitors which also gives our telephone numbers if you are interested
in purchasing a picture. Prices can be found in a list on the wall.
Viv Smith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P18/V0005/LDP
27 Laburnum Rd. One storey extension
- previously permitted LDC – to be
extended from 3m to 4m.
4 January
Target Dec
Date: 1 March
P18/V0090/LDP
86 Turner Drive. Certificate of
Lawfulness for proposed loft conversion
12 January
TDD:9 March
P18/V0091/FUL
and
P18/V0092/A
The Oxford Sofa Studio, 51 West Way.
Change of use from Sofa Studio to
vehicle hire branch (Sui Generis).
22 January
TDD:19 March
P18/V0046/LB
Old Manor Stables, Nth Hinksey Lane.
Add single roof light to match existing.
Enlarge external door opening and
replace with glazed French doors.
24 January
TDD:21 March
P18/V0221/HH
22 Sweetmans Rd. Single storey rear
extension.
26 January
TDD:23 March
P18/V0242/HH
15 Finmore Rd. Two storey side
extension.
2 February
TDD:30 March
P18/V0239/FUL
Sweetmans Cottage Yarnells Hill.
Variation of condition 2 P16/V0651/FUL
Demolish existing dwelling, erect 5-bed
eco house plus separate garage.
5 February
TDD: 2 April
P18/V0317/DIS
Botley Centre West Way. Discharge of
condition 38 – Community Employment
Plan on application ref. P16/V0246/FUL
7 February
TDD:21 March
P18/V0328/DIS
27 North Hinksey Village. Discharge of
condition 3 (windows/doors/materials)
in P16/V3033/LB & P16/V3032/HH.
9 February
Botley Sobell Shop, closed 16.12.17. R.I.P.
Lines on the closing of the Sobell Charity Shop, Botley
So, Farewell
Then
Judi and Tracy.
You ran the
Sobell Shop
In Botley,
Until it closed down.
It was always
So friendly,
Like someone’s front room.
Where else
Could you buy a novel,
A tent, and an
Engagement ring?
And where
Do we all go now –
JR outpatients?
Some may go to
Bicester.
Others may go
Bonkers.
Yes. Bonkers.
That is what
It was.
The most bonkers
Charity shop in Oxford.
And the
Best.
So, thank you,
Sweet ladies,
Time please.
Cheers.
Three cheers
For you
All.
Oh how we miss you, our beloved local Chazzer! And we are not the only
ones. The poem on the previous page is from Professor Bookworm
(Stephen), one of their many fans. Sobell Shops had this to say:
It was with great sadness that we had to close our Botley shop on
Saturday 16th December, due to the redevelopment of the site. For the
last 18 years the shop had been at the heart of the Botley community and
we would like to take this opportunity to thank all you local residents for
your support and loyalty during this time.
Under the expert management of Judi and Tracy and their loyal team of
volunteers, the shop was always fully stocked and offering great-value
donated items to local residents and workplaces. The fantastic team of
volunteers worked so hard and gave so generously of their time, that
Sobell House were able to maximise the funds they generated and
provide invaluable support to the Hospice.
Both Judi and Tracy have moved across to our flagship store, So Bicester
Superstore, where they can continue to put their retail skills to good use.
They would love to receive a visit from Botley customers.
We will be setting up a one-off donation collection point in St Peter
and Paul’s Church Hall on Monday 12th March from 12–3pm. If you
have donations for Sobell House please do bring them along during this
time and Tracy will be there to accept them. But PLEASE do not leave
them at the church at any other time as they cannot store them.
We hope that the community will continue to support us in this new
venture.
Debbie Askew, Sobell Shops Marketing and Communications Manager.
Food Relief Channel – what’s it really for?
Perhaps forty or fifty people came to the W.I. Hall at the end of January
to hear what the Oxford Preservation Trust had to say about the Flood
Relief Channel and how it would affect Hinksey Meadow. Debbie Dance,
the president, was the main speaker, and the general sense of her talk
was that OPT was feeling its way. Of course they don’t want to stand in
the way of the prosperity of the city, but at the same time their job is to
protect our ancient buildings and green spaces.
OPT had not been invited to the original discussion about the scheme,
but now they are part of it, they are making a visible contribution. Thanks
to them, the very rare grassland affected is being shown on all the maps
used in the consultation. Thanks to them, all the trees doomed for the
chop have now been marked with yellow paint. Thanks to them, yellow
posts now mark the rim of the new channel, and they are talking of getting
the actual height of the bridge across the middle of Willow Walk
demonstrated in scaffolding, so we can get a sense of what’s intended.
And make no mistake – it’s big! The bridge will not be a friendly stone one
like the one by the school. It will be more like a motorway span, 4 metres
above ground level, with a long, wide arch of 19 metres, cutting out a
swathe of trees. There will be a second bridge over Monk’s Causeway,
and hardstanding between the two on the city side of the stream for works
vehicles. The scrape itself, of which the 27% belonging to OPT is all in
our parish, will be 60 metres wide, and the ground will be 60 cm lower
than now. And what is it all for?
To “reduce” flood risk to 1200 homes, according to the main Government
website. How? “By lowering parts of the floodplain and working on some
of the existing rivers and streams that run through it, to make more space
for water”. 400,000 tons of earth will be shifted, to be reshaped in banks
near Hinksey Heights Golf Course. It’s hard to see why dredging the silt
from the rivers, untouched for forty years, wouldn’t have the same effect,
much more cheaply.
The agencies involved hope that the final effect will be unobtrusive and
enhance the potential for wildlife in the area, but they don’t seem to have
thought it through. The landowners are up in arms because no fences will
be allowed. But of course without fences you can’t have grazing (from
which they get their income). And without grazing, the land reverts to
scrub unless it’s regularly mown. There is a maintenance budget, but only
for the first ten years, after which it will be left to fend for itself.
There are thorny questions for the Preservation Trust. Blue pipes
around the field are metering the hydrology. If it turns out that by
lowering the ground level you change the underlying water table, then
that will be the end of the famous MG4 grassland that has taken 1000
years to develop. And, in the absence of a maintenance budget, will the
Trust become liable for keeping the channel clear? What might that
mean?
The trouble is, the scheme has momentum. Perhaps it has already
become unstoppable. The Government is investing £65 million in it, and
the latest £4 million has recently been contributed by the City Council
from the Housing Infrastructure Fund. The Government elsewhere says
that the scheme “is required to help unlock the land and capacity for
hundreds of new homes”. Where? In the flood plain? Apparently so. It
seems we are talking about the University’s plans to redevelop Osney
Mead as a new housing estate. So that’s what it’s all about! Did the
Oxford Flood Alliance realize that when they persuaded the agencies to
stay with the scheme when they were thinking of dropping it, I wonder.
My own feeling – and I speak as someone who has been flooded three
times – is that the relief works already in place, thanks largely to OFA,
are effective, and should be given more time to prove themselves. In
conjunction with dredging the water courses, they may well be all that is
needed to control the floods.
History shows that the rivers around this part of the city have been
realigned more than once for the sake of the humans who live there. The
main channel itself, flowing under Osney Bridge, is man-made. If the so-
called Flood Relief Scheme is actually about building over the flood plain
on the west of Oxford, then that is not unheard of in itself. But that is what
we should be talking about and voting on, not flood relief.
You could call it win–win: we get flood relief and more housing, but the
price we pay will be Oxford’s green setting and the irreplaceable ancient
meadow. Is that price too high?
The Planning Application will be submitted in the middle of March. That
will be the time to look carefully at what’s involved. If the Trust does
decide to oppose the scheme, it will be David taking on Goliath – their
staff of six individuals, versus the five mighty agencies who champion it.
They will need all the help they can get.
Ag MacKeith
Brownies pack their bags
This term we welcomed Olivia, Arianna, Faith and Pauline to 2nd Botley
Brownies. Our programme this term is to do the Brownie Skills badge as
a Unit. We started by packing a bag for an imaginary weekend
away. We were given two scenarios to pack for and in
the Six that I went to assist it was just as well it was
a made-up trip, as we had entirely forgotten
to pack a wash bag. It must have been the
long debate about what we should
pack for our imagined trip
to the swimming
pool that distracted
us. They couldn’t see that we
really would need more than a pair
of goggles to be let into the public pool! My
mime of “goggles” suddenly got the
message across and “swimsuit” or is it
“swimming costume”? (another
debate) plus a towel suddenly had the girls demanding that
we add those items to our list as quickly as possible before time was up.
Another session, and we considered what we might need to have with us
when we went for a hike and/or walk. What kind of clothing was required
to cover all kinds of weather, what kind of footwear would be suitable,
etc. It used to be money and suitable small coins to make a phone call,
but is now all about having a fully-charged mobile phone, an energy-
providing snack, a drink, etc. We also considered what was not
needed… Shiny party dresses and an electronic game was the
suggestion – not needed unless, of course, you happen to be hiking to a
fancy dress party that you think will be so tedious that you need to bring
your own entertainment! (Why are you going in the first place if it’s going
to be terrible, though?)
In the middle of term, the anniversary of the first Votes for Women fell on
a Tuesday. Brown Owl was not going to let that go without a
demonstration (pun intended) of what that actually meant. The Sixers
and Seconders were asked to go off and choose a game they wanted the
whole Unit to play. We then told the rest of the Unit that we were going
to pretend to be men and the Sixers and Seconders were, unbeknown to
them, women with NO votes. The Sixers and Seconders duly chose a
game but the remainder of the Unit were then asked what they wanted to
play. They came up with a different game, and that game was then
played. At first the Sixers and Seconders accepted this but after the third
time it happened they said, “Hold on, this isn’t fair. You’re not listening to
us! It was then explained to them that that was what happened to Women
100 years ago. A long discussion then followed on what it must have
been like to live in a society where you have no voice. The girls were
unimpressed with previous centuries.
Lucy Howes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holy Week and Easter
in the Parish of North Hinksey with Botley
29th March – Maundy Thursday
9.00am Morning Prayer at St. Lawrence
7.00pm The Eucharist, foot washing and watching in the garden
at St. Peter & St Paul
30
th
March – Good Friday
9.00am Morning Prayer at St. Peter & St. Paul
1.00pm Short devotional service followed by the Walk of Witness
leaving St. Peter & St. Paul for St. Lawrence
2.00pm Devotional service at St. Lawrence
Holy Saturday
9.30-12.00 Free coffee and hot cross buns served in the church of
St. Peter & St. Paul.
Making the Easter Garden
Cake and produce stall with Easter goodies on sale
Easter Day Services – 1
st
April
9.30am Holy Communion at St. Peter & Paul, Botley
11.30am Holy Communion at St. Lawrence
Doing a Favour to Bridges and Branches
Now that was an evening to remember! Dean Court Community Centre,
23rd February 2018. The Bridges and Branches Fantastic Favours
Auction, which raised a stonking £4000 plus for our two local charities,
still doing their very best for the youngsters of Botley
in the absence of state funding.
The hall was buzzing, tables packed with lively locals
looking forward to the fun. Our bearded auctioneer
was well up to the task, and the haul of favours called
in was wildly diverse. They ranged from a Caribbean
holiday apartment on St Vincent to a ride on the back
of a classic Suzuki GS 1000S (or alternatively, a
weekend in Weymouth and a ride in an E-type), from
a guided tour or the Mini plant to a guided tour of the
Ridgeway Hillforts, from a course of bass guitar
lessons to a chocolate cake covered in Smarties,
from an MOT at Botley Motors to a bike service at
Warlands. The surprise top bid was £820 for a stay
at a luxurious holiday cottage in Swanage. It fetched
nearly three times the bid for the stay on St Vincent,
but of course it was much cheaper to get to.
Here’s a photo to give you a flavour. Were you there? Fun, wasn’t it!
Randoms
Botley W.I.
Mystery speaker on Tuesday 6 March, 7:30 pm. Bring a magnifying
glass if you have one. Craft group 20 March, WI Hall. Walking group
Thursday, 22nd March, Farmoor, meet 10.00 at hall. Book group 21
March, 7:30 pm. Come and join us!
Mystery object
What can this be? It was found in
the earth under an ancient stable.
Made of machined brass, hollow,
as if to sheathe some kind of
wooden shaft, perhaps. About
10cm long and 5cm high. The
hole you can see is just on one
side. Marks suggest something
may have lain across the top.
Any ideas to the Editor, please.
Dean Court Community Breakfast
We are looking for friendly volunteers to come and help out at our
Community Breakfast which takes place on the last Sunday of the month.
We serve bacon and eggs, waffles and toasties, have activities for
children and newspapers for adults. It's a great community event that
anyone is welcome to attend. We need people to help with setting-up,
cooking and serving between 8.30 and 10.30 am and then people to help
with cooking, serving and clearing away between 10.30 am and 12.30
pm. Just a couple of hours, once a month. If this sounds like you, email
Sarah at deancourtcc@gmail.com
2018 Spring Clean
We’ve yet to hear of any local initiatives, despite the parlous state of our
shopping centre and most of the gutters, banks and hedges around the
parish. If you do decide to get out and make a difference on the weekend
of 3rd and 4th March, send us a photo, and we’ll be happy to publish it.
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona
Wheeler, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6 -7.30 : Alison
Griffin 01865 379247
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Meet Fridays, Botley Baptist Hall Contact: Julie Tatham
01865 863074 or Amy Cusden 07887 654386
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@ sky.com or Brendan
Byrne Ox.792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30 a.m Contact: Briony 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela
Astley-Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Chair-based Exercise Class
Tuesdays 10.30 – 11.30 a.m. Seacourt Hall
Contact Lizzie, Oxon Age UK, 07785 425601
Community Fridge
For all. Put food in, take food out. Ss P&P church, Mon–
Sat 9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Cumnor Choral Society
Friday 7.30 to 9.30 pm Contact: 01235 533726 or
07552 786127 or www.cumnorchoral.co.uk
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
862788 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
Details on website at http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or
phone Chris Impey, 01865 721026
Fit Steps – exercise based
on dance
Friday 6–7pm, Seacourt Hall. Email Rosalie on
rosalie.crane@btinternet.com
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group
Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
Mum and Baby Yoga for
babies from 6 wks to crawling
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline
Rice via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare Clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Horticultural Soc
Contact: Ann Dykes Ox 251821 anndykes@hotmail.com
N Hinksey Parish Council
Alan Stone 01865 861992 nhpcclerk@msn.com
N Hinksey Youth Club
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on
07791 212866 or see Facebook
Over Sixties Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658 or
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Parkinson’s Disease Soc
Contact: Pen Keyte, Branch Secretary 01865 556032.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
David Brown raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Royal Voluntary Service
(West Way Day Centre)
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Saturdads
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Contact: Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate club
6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso
tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
West Oxford Bowls Club
Contact: Marion Bostock 436277
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
07815 899698 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
Which Craft?
Pavilion, Arnold’s way, fourth Monday, contact
whichcraft.botley@yahoo.co.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Liz Manson, 244175 email liz.manson@virginmedia.com
